The Ripple Effect of Bullying: Student Well-Being and Engagement Across Middle School
This mixed-methods study examines how students in grades 6 to 8 across five schools perceive and experience bullying and how these experiences affect their well-being and school engagement. Drawing on the Social-Ecological Model and Theory of Planned Behavior, the research reveals that bullying—ranging from verbal aggression to social exclusion—leads to emotional distress, disengagement, and declining trust in teachers. As students age, they increasingly normalize bullying and adopt varied coping mechanisms. The study underscores the need for grade-sensitive anti-bullying interventions, restorative counseling, and improved reporting systems to foster safer, more inclusive school environments.
